Flue cleaning machine



FLUE CLEANING MACHINE Filed Sept. 2l, 1932 4 sheets-sheet 1 wAA-l.

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T. J. JACKSON Er Ax. 2,027,173

FLUE CLEANING MACHINE Filed sept. 21, 1952 4 sheets-sheet Jan. 7, 1936.N' T. J. JACKSON ETAL FLUE CLEANING MACHINE Filed Sept. 2l, 1932 4Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan 7, 1936. T. J. JACKSON ET AL 2,027,173

FLUE CLEANING MACHINE I Filed Sept. 21, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 WMM r- /mPatented Jan. 7, 1936 PATENT OFFICE FLUE CLEANING MACHINE `Thomas J.Jackson and `oseph Alphonse Bekemans, Livingston, Mont.

Application September 21, 1932, Serial No. 634,112

2 Claims.

Our invention relates to ue cleaning machines and has for its object theprovision of a highly eflicient rotary boiler rlue cleaning machine thatwill remove all lime and scale from a flue without danger of breaking,-cracking or otherwise damaging the same and particularly the endsthereof and in which no sanding or bobbing with a hammer is required tocomplete the cleaning of a flue after having passed f through themachine.

To the above end the invention consists of the novel devices andcombinations of devices hereinafter described and dened in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, likecharacters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a left hand side elevation of the improved flue cleaningmachine;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine with some parts sectioned onthe line 2-2 of Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale; 1

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view partly in left hand side elevation andpartly in vertical section taken on the irregular line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in rear elevation with some parts sectionedon the lines 4-4 an-d 4'-4 of Fig. 1 on the same scale as Figs. 2 and 3;

Fig. 5 is a left hand side elevation of the upper breaker, its mountingand the flue, as shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail view of the upper breaker 4and iiue on anenlarged scale;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the upper breaker and -flue, as shown in Fig.3;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail View principally in section taken on theline 8-8 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary detail View with the carrier shank sectioned onthe line 9-9 of 40 Fig 2;

Fig. 10 is a view vprincipally in rear end elevation with some partssectioned on the line I IJ-I 0 of Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale, andother parts broken away and sectioned; and.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary detail view in section taken on the line II-IIof Fig. 1,-on an enlarged scale.

The frame of the machine includes a rectangular base I2 made up of fourplates rigidly 50 connected at their corners by angle bars. The frontand back base-forming plates extend above the base I2 and afford framemembers I3 and I4,

respectively, which are rigidly connected by a tube I5 at substantiallythe transverse center of the base I2. It will be noted that the endportions of the tube I 5 extend completely through the framemembers I3and I4 and are rigidly secured thereto by welding or otherwise. Theframe member I3 is round, except at its junction with the base I2, andthe center thereof is at the axis of the tube I5. On the back of theframe member I3, at its perimeter, is a reinforcing flange, I6. The tubeI5 extends rearward of the frame member I4 and through a hole in abearing plate Il, at the center thereof. This bearingplate Il is rigidlysecured to the tube I5 by welding or otherwise and is held therebylaterally spaced from the frame member I4.

Removably mounted in the tube I5 is a bushing I8 comprising a tubehaving on each end a collar I 9 which has a working lit with theinterior of the tube I5 and holds said bushing centered therein. Thisbushing I 8 is insertable by an endwise sliding movement into the tubeI5 from the rearend thereof and the rear collar I9 is provided with anannular external flange 20 which normally engages the rear end of thetube I5 and the bearing plate I'I and limits the movement of the bushingI8 into the tube I5. Any suitable means may be provided for holding thebushing I8 against removal from the tube I5, such as a screw 2|, asshown in Fig. 3.

'Ihis flue cleaning machine will be provided with a plurality ofbushings I8, the collars of which have the same external diameter andthe tubes of which will be ,of different diameters to receive and holdllues of dierent diameters.

A boiler iiue X, to be cleaned, is fed endwise through the bushing I8from the rear end of the machine and the scale thereon i's indicated atY.

A rack 22, including a rear section and a front section, is provided forholding the ilue X as the same is fed into the machine and for receivingthe same as it comes out of the machine. Each section of the rack 22includes a pair of bars 23 which extend parallel to the axis of the tubeI5 and are rigidly connected and held edgewise spaced by a plurality ofcross-tie angle bars 24. These rack bars 23 are supported on a pluralityof leg brackets 25 preferably bolted or `otherwise rigidly secured tothe floor on which the machine rests. The rear section of the rack 22,at its inner end, is rigidly secured to a' xed angle bar 26 on the outerface of the bearing plate I'l and the inner end of the front section ofsaid rack is similarly secured to a fixed angle bar 21 on the outer faceof a front bearing plate 28. This bearingplate 28 is rigidly secured tothe frame" member I3 and held spaced forward thereof and parallelthereto by long bolts 29 and spacing sleeves 3D.

Each section of the rack 22 further includes a plurality of pairs ofcooperating upper and lower grooved rollers 3| and 32. The lower rollers32 are between the rack bars 23 and are journaled on fixed axles 33mounted in depending boxes 34 on the under side of said bars. It will benoted that the axles 33 are held against endwise removal from the boxes34 by set-screws. The upper rollers 3| are journaled on fixed axles 35mounted in bearing brackets 35 which rest on the rack bars 23 and arerigidly secured thereto. These bearing brackets 3B have vertical slots31 through which the end portions of the axles 35 project.

Washers and nuts 38 are applied to the axles 35 outward of the brackets36. The axles 35, within the slots 37, are flattened on opposite sides,as indicated at 3S, to prevent said axles from turning about their axesin the slot 3l. The shoulders, formed by the flattened sides 39 of theaxles 35, are drawn against the inner faces of `the bearing b-rackets 35by theV nuts 38 and thereby rigidly secure the axles 33 to the bearingbrackets 35. Obviously, by loosening the nuts 38 the upper rollers 3|may be vertically adjusted above the lower rollers 32 for fiues ofdifferent diameters. 'Ihe slots 37, at their lower ends, Vhave eyesthrough which the axles 35 may 'be moved endwise to mount the same inthe up- Y brackets 25. Blocks or shims 4U, of wood or any other suitablematerial, are removably interposed between the rack bars 23 and thehorizontal members of the leg brackets 25 and between said bars and theangle bars y24 and 25. These shims 43, in actual usage of the machine,will be provided in interchangeably usable sets of different thicknessesfor use with the bushings |3 for flues of dilerent diameters to supportthe rack 22 at the proper elevation to hold the flue X axially alignedwith the bushing |8.

lThe greater part of the scale Y is broken and removed from the flue Xby a cooperating plurality of rotary breakers 4| in the form of wheelsthat are forward of the frame member i3. These breakers 4| are radiallyspaced about the axis of the tube I5 for rotation in a vertical planethat is substantially perpendicular t0 said axis. Two of these breakers4|, to wit: the lower ones, have their axes in the same horizontal planebelow the axis of the tube I5 and the axis of the other or upper breaker4| is above the axis of the tube l5 and midway between the axes of thelower'breakers 4|, see Fig. 2.

The faces of the breakers 4| are of novel construction, as willhereinafter appear, and each of said breakers is independently driven bya shaft 42 which extends from the rear to the front of the machine. Eachshaft 42 includes a rear end section 43, a front end section 44, and twointermediate sections 45. The shaft sections 43 and 44 are telescopedinto the intermediate shaft sections 45 which are tubular with freedomfor endwise sliding movement. It will be noted that the telescopedportions of the shaft sections 43,

44 and 45 are square in cross-section and connect said sections forcommon rotation.

The two intermediate shaft sections 45 are rigidly connected by acoupling 46. A gear spindle 4'! is connected to the outer end of theshaft section 43 by a universal joint 43 and a breaker spindle 49 isconnected to the outer end of the shaft section 44 by a universal joint50.

The breakers 4| are detachably but rigidly applied to their hubs 5| andwhich hubs are mounted on the spindles 49 for rotation therewith. Eachgear spindle 47 is journaled in a pair of axially spaced bushings 52mounted in a pair of seats, one of which is in the frame member I4 andthe other of which is in the bearing plate Each spindle 45, between itsbreaker 4| and universal joint 53, is journaled in a bushing 53.

Each bushing 53 is mounted in a hub 54 of a breaker carrier 55 and whichhubs extend loosely through an inner radial slot 55 in the frame memberi3 vwith freedom for slight angular movement transversely thereof. Theslots 56 are spaced circumferentially withrespect to the frame member i3equi-distances apart. A spindle 5l, which projects radially from theaxis of the tube l5, is rigidly secured to each breaker carrier 55 andjournaled in a bushing 58 mounted in the carrier guide 53. The carrierguides 53 have on their backs, at their lower ends, nutacting lugs 33which extend into outer slots 6| in the frame member |3 outward of theslots 56 and longitudinally aligned therewith. 'Ihese carrier guides 53are slidably mounted on the outer face of the frame member |3 and heldfor straight line sliding movement by guide bars `62 fixed on said framemember.

Long thumb-screws 63 are provided for bodily moving the carrier guides59 radially toward or from the tube l5. These thumb-screws 63 extend,from the perimeter of the frame member i3, through the slots 6| andholes in the lugs 60 and have screw-threaded engagement with said lugs.Said thumb-screws 63 are turnably mounted in seats in the frame member|3, at the ends of the slots 5|. The heads on the outer ends of thethumb-screws 63 and the nuts 54 applied to the inner ends thereof holdthe thumb-.screws 63 against endwise movement but with freedom forrotation in their seats and lugs 69.

It is important to note that shoulders on the inner end portions of thetwo lower spindles 5l and the nuts 35, which areapplied totheirouterends, hold said spindles against endwise movement in the respectivecarrier guides 59. Obviously, the two lower spindles 57 connect the twolower breaker carriers 55 and their carrier guides 53 forV commonmovement whereby the two lower breakers 4| may be adjusted, at will, forflues of different diameters and hold the same in axial alignment withthe tube I5.

The upper Yspindle 5'| is free for endwise reciprocatory movement in theupper carrier guide 59 and permits oating movement of the -upper breaker4|, as will presently appear. vReciprocatory movementgis imparted to theupper spindle 5l by an air cylinder and piston 55 and B1 for moving theupper breaker 4| radially toward or from the projected axis of the tubeI5 and for holding said breaker in an operative position with itsperiphery positioned for engagement with the periphery of the flue X.The rod 68 of the piston 5l is axially aligned with the upper spindle 51and detachably secured thereto by a. nut-equipped bolt 69. Y

A coiled compression spring 19 is provided for retracting the piston 61,when the air pressure in the cylinder 66 is released, to move the upperbreaker 4| radially awayV from the ue X. 'I'his spring 19 encircles thepiston rod 68 between the lower head of the cylinder 66 and the piston61 for compression therebetween. vAir under pressure is admitted to thecylinder 66, outward of the piston 61 for operating the same to move theupper breaker 4I toward the flue X, through a pipe 1| leading from asuitable air compressor, not shcwn. An air regulating valve 12 isinterposed in the pipe 1| and an air presser gauge13 is also connectedto the pipe 1|.

A threeway valve or other suitable means, not shown,'will be interposedin the air pipe 1|. This valve, when in position, will admit air to thecylinder 66 to project the piston 61 and when in another position willcut-off the air supply to the cylinder 66 and open said cylinder totheatmosphere to permit the springs 19 to retract said piston. The cylinder66 and gauge 13 are mounted on a bracket 14 on the frame member I3.

Each spindle 51 is normally held from turning about its axis by an angleadjuster 15 which includes a bar 16 that extends transversely `of saidspindle and has at each end a set-screw 11. The purpose of this angleadjuster 15 is to set the breakers 4| in positions in which they extendat right angles transversely of the flue X or in variable positions inwhich they extend transversely oblique to said flue, for a purpose thatwill presently appear. The bars 16 have at their longitudinal centersholes through which the spindles 51 project outward of the carrierguides 59. The holes in the bars 16 and the spindles 51, where they passthrough said holes, are square 1n crosssection to connect said bars andspindles for common turning movement about the axes of the spindles 51.

The screws 11 have threaded engagement with the bars 16 and are normallyheld from turning movement by lock-nuts 18. The heads of the screws 11impinge against the outer face of the frame member -I3 and thereby holdthe bars 16, and hence the spindles 51, fromturning'. Obviously,relative adjustment of the screws 11 will move the bars 19 and thespindles 51 about the axes of said spindles and thereby angularly adjustthe breakers 4|, see Fig. 9.

The shafts 42, by which the breakers 4I are rotated, are driven by anelectric motor 19 mounted on a base 69 on the left hand 'side of themachine. The driving connections from the motor 19 to the shafts 42include a belt 8| arranged to run over a relatively small pulley 82 onthe armature shaft of said motor and a relatively large pulley 83 on ashaft 84 journaled in boxes 85 on a front bracket 86 secured to the baseI2 and the frame member I3 and a rear bracket 81 secured to said base. Atightener 88 for the belt 8| is secured to the base I2.

An intermediate shaft 89 is driven from the shaft 84 by a belt 99arranged to run over a three step cone pulley 9| on the shaft 84 and athree step cone pulley 92 on the shaft 89. Obviously, these cone pulleys9| and 92 permit the machine to be operated at three different speeds.The intermediate shaft 89 is journaled in bearings in the frame members|3 and I4 and the plate I1. Keyed to the shaft 94 between the plate I1and the rear bracket 81 is a relatively small spur gear 93 which mesheswith a relatively large spur gear 94. The gear 94 is keyed to a shortshaft 95 journaled in bearings on the frame member |4 and the plate I1.A relatively small gear 96 is keyed to the shaft 95 and meshes with aloose gear 91 journaled on a flanged bushing 98 on the tube I5. Threerelatively small gears 99 keyed one to each of the gear spindles 41 meshwith the loose gear 91 and complete the driving connections from themotor 19 to the shafts 42.

'Ihe arrangement Vof the driving connections from the motor 19 to theshafts 42 is such as to rotate the breakers 4| anti-clockwise.

Referring now in detail to the construction of the breakers 4I vand theaction thereof in removing lime and scale from the flue X is as follows:Each breaker 4| has on its periphery a spiral rib |99 in the form of aleft hand screw thread that extends the full length of said breaker.AThis rib |99, for instance, may have eight convolutions per inch and istruncated substantially onehalf of its width, as indicated at |9I.Preferably, the rib |99 is broken or interupted by corrugating thebreaker 4|, as indicated at |92. These corrugations |92 havesubstantially the sam'e depth as the rib |99 and extends at right anglesthereto, see Fig. 6. The action of the breakers 4I on the flue X rotatesthe same in the bushing I8 and at the same time, due to the left handthreads |99 and the rotation thereof anti-clockwise, automatically feedssaid flue endwise through the machine from the rear to the frontthereof. By manipulating the angle adjuster 15 the breakers 4| may beangularly adjusted transversely of the flue X to vary the speed at whichsaid ue is moved endwise. of the flue X may be varied from zero to apredetermined number of feet per minute, for instance, in the presentmachine a 2 or 21/4" flue may be fed endwise as high as 22 per minute.

The action of the interrupted rib |99 on the flue X breaks up the limeand scale thereon both circumferentially and longitudinally thereof andscrape the same therefrom` during the compound rotary and endwise travelof said flue.

During the travel of the flue X through the machine the same issupported on the two lower breakers 4| and downward pressure is appliedto said flue by the upper breaker 4|. This pressure on the flue X by theupper breaker 4| may be varied, at will, by adjusting the air regulatingvalve 12. Obviously, the air pressure in the cylinder 96 on the piston61 produces an even pressure of the upper breaker 4| on the ue X andwill permit said upper breaker to float so that the same isself-adjusted to a ue in case the same isout of round or has unevenplaces therein. The air in the cylinder 66 acts as a cushion so Thisendwise travel that the flue X, while being acted on by the' breakers4I, will not be cracked, broken or damaged at its ends.

By reference to Fig. 6 it will be noted that the receiving ends of thebreakers 4| are tapered to facilitate the feeding of the flue Xtherethrough and the removal of the lime and scale from said ue.

To clean the flue X the same is placed on the rear section of the rack22 and manually fed. endwise through the bushing I8 until its front endis between the breakers 4| and at which time the cylinder 66 is open toatmosphere and the upper breaker 4I held raised by the spring 19. Withthe flue X thus positioned, air is admitted into the cylinder 66 tooperate the piston 61 and project the upper breaker 4| onto said fluewhich starts the rotary and endwise feeding thereof. From the time theupper breaker 4I is brought pin connections H5.

into contact with the flueX the cleaning thereof and zthe deliverythereof onto the outer section of the rack 22 is entirely automatic. Therotary movement of the flue X by the breakers 4| will also loosen allsediment and dirt on the inside of said iiue.

Any loose dirt or scale on the ue X, `after having passed through thebreakers 13|, is removed by steel Wire brushes arranged in two groups inopposing relation for action on opposite sides of the flue X. In one ofthese groups there are three brushes |3 and in the other group there arefour brushes lfi. Each group of brushes iin-JEM is mounted in a holder|05 on a slide |98 in the form of a flat plate. These slides |66 aresimultaneously moved to either project or retract the brushes H13-04 byan air cylinder |89 and a pair of cooperating pistons H0. The cylinderH39 is rigidly secured to the bearing plate 28'above the slides it. Thepistons lit -are arranged in opposing relation and air is admitted tothe cylinder |69 therebetween through a branch pipe l that leads fromthe air supply pipe 1|.

Each slide I is connected to one of the pistons Il@ by a bell-cranklever H2 intermediately pivoted to the bearing plate 28. The Lipper orshort ends of the levers H2 are connected to the pistons H Iby L-shapedlinks H3. 'Friese links i3 are pivoted to the pistons I!) and work inslots ||i in the cylinder IBS and which slots extend completely throughthe outer ends of said cylinder. I'he lower or long ends of the leversH2 are connected to the holders |65 by slot and interposed in the branchpipe is a three-way valve HE which, when in one position, ,admits air tothe cylinder |89, and when in another position, cuts oi the air supplyto said cylinder and opens the cylinder |09 to the atmosphere.

Normally the cylinder |139 is open to the atmosphere and the brushes |03and |04 retracted but as soon as the front end of the flue X passesbetween said brushes the operator manipulates the valve HBS to admit airto the cylinder. Air under pressure in the cylinder |39 will move thepistons H0 away from each other and thereby project the brushes m3 andlfi against the flue X on opposite sides thereof with suiiicientpressure to remove all scale and dirt therefrom during the compoundrotary and endwise travel of the flue X. Obviously the pistons willequalize the pressure of the brushes |63 and Hl@ on the flue X andthereby hold the same centered.

Aftertherfiue X has passed from between the brushes |03 and His theoperator again manipulates the valve |66 and opens the cylinder |09 tothe atmosphere which releases the air pressure on the pistons IQ andthereby permits said brushes to be retracted.

From the foregoing it must be evident that the invention hereindisclosed is capable of large range of modiiication within the spirit ofthe invention herein disclosed and claimed. 10

What We claim is:

1. In a machine of the class describedfmeans for guiding a ue endwisethrough the machine,

a carrier guide, a scale breaker carrier having a spindle journaled inthe guide for turning movement about an axis that extends substantiallyradially from the axis on which the ue guiding means holds a flue forendwise movement, a rotary scale breaker, a spindle fixed to the scalebreaker, journaled in the carrier and extending substantiallyperpendiculiar to the rst noted axis, means for rotating the breakerspindle, said breaker having spirally arranged teeth, and manuallyoperated means for turning the carrier spindie to adjust the breaker andchange the angle of pitch of its teeth with respect to the direction oftravel of the flue through the machine, said manually operated meansincluding a bar intermediately fixed to the carrier spindle and setscrews in the ends of the bar and engaging the carrier guide as a baseof resistance.

2. In a machine4 oi the class described, means for guiding a flueendwise through the machine, a carrier guide, a scale breaker carrierhaving a spindle journaled in the guide for movement about an axis thatextends substantially radially from the axis on which the iiue guidingmeans holds a flue for endwise movement, a rotary scale breaker, aspindle iixed to the scale breaker, journaled in the carrier andextending substantially perpendicular to the rst noted axis, means forrotating the breaker spindie, said breaker having spirally arrangedteeth, and manually operated means for turning the carrier spindle toadjust the breaker and change the angle of pitch of its teeth withrespect to the direction of travel ci the flue through the machine, saidmanually operated means slidably engaging the carrier guide as a base ofresistance.

THOMAS J. JACKSON. JOSEPH ALPHONSE BEKEMANS.

turning 35 l

